Power coupled with prejudice, not color, defines racism in U.S.

Wednesday, March 4, 1998

Power coupled with prejudice, not color, defines racism in
U.S.

RACISM: People of all ethnicities are biased, not just
privileged whites

By Alexander Schwarz

In response to Michael Schwartz’s article in the Feb. 27 Daily
Bruin titled, "Power and Privilege: Who’s Really Got It?" I must
say that you, Schwartz, do not make a convincing case. Your logic
is not sound, nor is your definition of racism accurate.

You assume that "If you are white, you are racist." Your logic
comes from the following argument: Racism is prejudice with power,
and only white people have power; therefore, if you are a white
person, you are racist. The fallacy here lies in who has power. You
claim only white people have power, based on the fact that 98.6
percent of top-level jobs belong to those with white skin. Though I
don’t believe that jobs are the only indicator of power in our
society, I will follow through with the assumption that they do,
and white people do in fact have 98.6 percent of the power. Suppose
I am generous and grant that this group of elite job holders
represents 20 percent of the white population. What is the
relationship between these elites and the remaining 80 percent of
the white population? The extension of your argument is that the
elite 20 percent is racist toward the remaining 80 percent. But if
that is the case, your argument has nothing to do with skin color.
Permit me to amend your argument: Racism is prejudice with power;
some white people have power; therefore, some white people are
racist. Yes, unfortunately, some white people are racist, but so
are some African American people, Latino people, Asian American
people and anyone else in this world. I don’t think anyone needed
your article to tell us that.

I looked up the word racism in the dictionary (American
Heritage) to see if the definition matched that given in your
article, and I found that it didn’t. What I found was this: "The
notion that one’s own ethnic stock is superior." Using this
definition, I can think of someone I know belonging to any
ethnicity who has made a comment implying that their ethnicity is
superior. I’ll assume, then, that there are racist people of all
colors, ethnicities and creeds. To single one group out, such as
you did, is unfair and shows extraordinary bias; that you are a
part of that group makes no difference.

I would never dare to argue that racism is not a problem in
America. I don’t think it is the biggest problem in America though;
I think prejudice is. Prejudice is "a preconceived preference or
idea." Everyone on earth shows some degree of prejudice, whether
against white, black, tall, short, thin, fat, rich, poor, ugly or
beautiful persons. If these prejudices didn’t exist, then we could
all see those who are truly racist for what they are: sad,
misinformed and hateful individuals.

I suggest, Schwartz, that instead of acting on your own
prejudices against people with white skin and accusing all
white-skinned people of being racist, you evaluate your own beliefs
and work toward making yourself a better individual, free of
prejudice.

In response to statements made about the prejudices, laws and
discrimination non-whites face, I agree that anyone offended –
black, white or whatever – should stand up for those on the short
end of that stick. I do urge you and everyone else not to assume
that all white-skinned people act on or believe in such
discriminatory practices.

At least one white-skinned person doesn’t.